RANK #498 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 21 NJ · POP 514,528
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Morris County, New Jersey, is distinguished by its Revolutionary War history, with Morristown serving as General George Washington's military headquarters during two winters. Located approximately 30 miles northwest of New York City, the county offers a suburban lifestyle with convenient access to metropolitan areas. Commuters utilize NJ Transit rail lines like the Morris & Essex Line for direct service to New York Penn Station. The landscape features rolling hills, valleys, and lakes, with extensive parkland, including the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Lewis Morris Park, providing abundant outdoor recreation opportunities.
Life in Morris County is characterized by highly-rated public schools and a variety of housing options. The county attracts families and professionals, many of whom commute to nearby cities. The economy is driven by a corporate presence, including pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing, with ongoing redevelopment of commercial sites into mixed-use properties. There is also significant investment in industrial and logistics sectors, with new warehouse projects contributing to economic activity.
Morris County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.0% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Morris County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Riverdale Quarry Redevelopment (Warehouse Space)
Undisclosed
|
$120M | Proposed |
|
Morris County Capital Spending Plan (2026)
Morris County Board of County Commissioners
|
$37M | Planned |
|
Morris County Capital Spending Plan (2025)
Morris County Board of County Commissioners
|
$35M | Planned |
|
Mount Olive Solar Farm
CEP Renewables LLC / NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation
|
$26M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Morris County scores 50/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#498). Median household income is $137,326 and job growth is running at +0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Morris County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $582,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,904/month on average.
Morris County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.9%). Home values shifted +4.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.21% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Morris County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.